Mark Cross CEA Primary School is a mixed year group setting with a Reception Class, a Year 1/2 class, a Year 3/4 class and a Year 5/6 class.
As such, our curriculum needs to be carefully planned and formulated to ensure that learning is sequential and that topics are taught in an order that makes sense. This can produce some challenges, but it can also provide fantastic opportunities to both stretch and support pupils.
We decided to implement a topic-based approach, creating a bespoke curriculum with high-quality literature at the heart of each learning journey. Statutory requirements of the National Curriculum are mapped across a two-year cycle, grouping elements to ensure that children have lots of opportunities to revisit core concepts and build on their prior knowledge. Each term, children explore their learning through carefully planned ‘journeys’ that are designed to provide them with a range of engaging experiences as they progress through the school.
On the whole, the same learning is delivered to all children in a given class with adaptations to challenge and support as needed. Classes may be split for Maths (and some aspects of English in Key Stage 1) according to any year group specific objectives that need to be delivered. We appreciate that each class and each child is different and are fortunate enough to have the space and staff which enables us to be flexible, working with individuals or groups of children as needed.
Assessment is continuous to monitor progress and identify any support (or increased challenge) that might be required. We have high ambitions for every pupil, particularly SEND, disadvantaged and vulnerable pupils and their needs are considered right from the outset both in terms of curriculum development and any adaptive teaching and learning that may need to take place. Where needed, lessons are adapted to ensure that children who need further support have appropriate resources and scaffolding, enabling them to successfully access the learning.
Pupils that require further challenge will be encouraged to think more deeply, make connections with their own lives and provide thoughtful and reasoned responses to a range of questions.
Further details about what the pupils will learn can be found on the curriculum and class pages.
